Man who allegedly tried to murder four Toronto friars by blowing up their house faces multiple charges

Chanh-Sang Lay charged with trying blow up Toronto friars' house

The yellow brick house on Huron Street, tucked between a community daycare centre and a residential duplex, is home to the Dominican Friars.

It does not stand out as unusual in a mixed neighbourhood of students and families — the Sigma Chi fraternity house is a few doors down and the University of Toronto’s Robarts Library is across the street — but police believe it could have been a scene of tragedy Monday morning.

That’s when officers were called to investigate a break-and-enter in progress at the residence, where four Toronto friars reside.

Two of the residents awoke to the sound of breaking glass and the smell of propane.

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“They checked the stove and a few other things to see where the smell was coming from,” said Const. Wendy Drummond, spokeswoman with the Toronto Police.

While checking for gas leaks, they instead came upon a man in the rear of their home, where he had broken in through a back entrance.

“Police were called and the accused was arrested a short distance away,” said Const. Drummond. Toronto firefighters, meanwhile, were dispatched to air out the house.

It is alleged that the accused broke a window in the house in order to pipe in propane “with the intent of the house exploding,” said Const. Drummond.

The home’s occupants range in age from 33 to 45, and police allege that the accused is “known to them.”

“The alleged act is obviously concerning,” said Const. Tony Vella, adding that while the occupants could have been injured, damage could have spread past the borders of the home. “Depending on the severity of the explosion, it could have injured others.”

As to why the suspect allegedly broke into the home after first attempting to render it explosive — police said they were withholding certain details until the case goes to trial.

Rob Parsons, a co-ordinator at the daycare next door, heard about the alleged attack on Tuesday morning.

“You just don’t think of anything like that to happen,” said Mr. Parsons. “[I’m] just really happy that nothing actually happened — that everyone was safe.”

Chanh-Sang Lay, 53, of Vaughan, is facing four counts of attempted murder, attempted arson, and four counts of intent to cause explosion, among other charges.

Anne Peterson, a mother of three, has lived in the neighbourhood for two years. She had heard about the incident, but didn’t realize it had happened so close to home.

“It’s such a peaceful neighbourhood. We never even worry about walking home late at night,” she said. “I’m shocked.”

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